Dropping the social medias

 Yeah, I've been dropping the social medias sites,they are getting way too personal but that's what is coming, I guess.

I really don't have time to be on them anyways. So much work needs to be done like every year. They are predicting a hard winter here so now I've got to get the house ready from the outside in. The hens are molting so they are slacking off the eggs and the coop and pen looks like a pillow exploded. It's hilarious.

I bought a bamboo steamer. That's going to be interesting since I've never used one. Thank goodness for you tube. This one came with a lot of gadgets to get started but no book. But that's ok I'll figure it.

I'm woodburning signs right now, so far, a welcome sign and I'm working on Misty Pines. I couldn't get homestead on it. I'll post the pictures when I'm done.

The garden is doing great. The okra has been blooming and I'm picking a handful a day. I planted winged beans, really odd little beans but I haven't had any yet. The spoon tomatoes are cute and have a really big taste to them. I made a half pint of basil Pesto. Came out ok not much taste on the pine nuts. Need to find a better source for them. I even roasted them but they weren't too strong like I thought they would be.

Well hope everyone has a good evening. Not much to update on today.Lwave a message at the bottom love hearing from ya!

 Been able to put up a few things this year. Jalapenos, tomatoes, a  little pickles. Green beans, I traded with a friend and got them on the shelf. Been really rainy here this summer and now we are going into our hot season for August. The chickens have slightly laid off laying eggs but that's ok they deserve it. They work really hard for us. Had to give Ollie a dose of fleas medicine and allergy relief stuff. Now it's quieting down around here.

They say we are going to have a cold winter this year so thats in the works to getting supplies for the chicken coop and for the house.Its been rough trying to keep the grass cut and now its bad. So much water.

I am so excited this year. I wasn't sure but now I am,I found a bunch of elderberry trees and I'm going nuts over them.Trying my hand at making wheatbread again.  Did strawberry preserves,they came out ok but not as firm as I wanted them. I am practicing how to on herbs. I've been reading everything I can get my hands on for any kind of help.

Hawaiian cowboy candy.

Well hope everyone is having a great growing season. This will be it for now have a good evening.

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This has been Different

 Came all the way from Nevada, sage brush. And it smells wonderful.

The rain is coming pretty steady and it's really getting my garden to grow good. A lot better than last year with the infernal heat wave we had. It's been cool and it's 73 degrees right now.  Very cool for June here in the south. But I did notice next week the heat is coming. Thats Ok I got okra that loves the

Echinacea's are blooming and the Gladiolus are full. Very pretty too. I planted a store bought Lavendar and its doing well. I don't normally plant too many flowers but this year I threw a bunch of seeds out and just hope they come up.

Planted carrots and they came up to my surprise. and the early girl tomatoes are loaded. Already have the fall list started and I'll be putting in turnip greens again. Mesa thinks I'm getting the hang of gardening. I've always loved growing stuff but didn't have a green thumb till I got here.

Anyways I'm happy about this year, it has been good.

Well there's a first for everything

 Ok no it wasnt funny but earleir I got a rotten egg. Talk about gagging,that was so dang nasty. But at least I cracked it in a bowl. I guess the girls was getting back at me for telling them I was boiling their children the other night. They are kinniving little snots.

Going Good so Far

We've been getting plenty of rain and everything in the garden is growing really good.I planted tomatoes,green beans,zucchinis,jalapenos(but could definitely use more),brussel sprouts,carrots,spoon tomatoes,bitter melons ,artichokes,amd okra, I planted 4 winged beans cause I really wanted to see how they would do here. Oh and cucumbers. My herbs I planted Yarrow,basil,mountain mint,dill and I still have the lemon balm going. The strawberry patch is going strong already. I'll post pictures when the plants get bigger.

Finally got thru with the new chicken pen,Had a heck of a time getting it. The first one they lost so I ordered a second one and it took me a week but it's put together. The girls love it. Why pen and not free range? There is a huge hawk that flies around here and it has set it's sights on the girls but so far it's been staying at a distance. I try very hard to take care of them. I'm getting eggs every day which is good and they get treats too. I haven't seen any snakes slithering around but kitties keep them at bay. Oh yeah got two black cats now. They're feral but getting tamed. I didn't want cats but after the run in Ollie had with that snake last year I said nope going to keep them around.

I'm reading Tony Hillerman books. I love the southwest.He's a good writer and has many books out. I'm reading Skinwalkers right now and this was made into a movie with Adam Beach and Wes Studi. 

I've been ordering some stuff that requires rechargeable batteries. I got a weedeater( very light for me to handle) and a mini chainsaw( I love it),I ordered a water pump that can either be plugged in or use with a battery, If you ladies out there cant use the bigger ones try these, alot less strain and pain and they came with cases except the weed eater.

ok thats about it just can't wait to start canning!!!

Please feel free to leave comments!

Garden setup this year.

He was 5 years old on April 1st,

this is my bull thistle in the backyard,that thing is huge!

There's a smaller one on the other side.

strawberry patch

radishes,tomatoes and peppers

brussel sprouts

tomatoes,early girls

flower bed

artichokes

carrots and winged beans

Got it in finally, all cleaned up. It was rough while still having to deal with the long haul covid but not as bad as a couple of months ago. Got a tiller and that made things easier except for the Alabama clay we got. It seems just maybe it'll work this year. They said we were going into an El Nino I'm thinking more rain. I still have these bitter melons to put in and I have no idea where to put them.

Ollie is doing so much better but his leg still pops when he runs. He's gained his weight back and he really needs to drop a little. But I'm so happy he's functioning. The chickens are putting out some decent amount of eggs and I'm setting up a bigger pen for them to run around in. I wished I could let them forage but there's seems to be two large hawks that know they're here, So that's out.

Well better get up off my behind and go do some more work. Never things to run out of when you have a homestead.

Almost

Almost lost him

He loves to play with his laser light and on the 22nd of December he played too long. Ended up pulling both his back legs to the point he couldn't walk.And he got a urinary tract infection and he was really bad. Instead of taking him to the vet here and they are horrible people,I doctored him myself with cranberry chews for dogs and CBD oil and it worked great. He's back to his old self and he has become a couch troll.

It's almost that time to start in the garden and I got alot of work to do. This year I'm starting to winter sow,putting seeds in milk jugs and let them hibernate til they're ready to come up. I hope this year it won't be as hot as it was last year. So far right now it's wet and cold here (Alabama) and getting colder. But it feel good compared to that summer last year.Im going for Mountain Mint and Artichokes. We'll see what happens.

I'm doing more woodburning and starting to do windchimes'

This is just one of the 5 I've done. I've had fun with them,

I'm in the process of doing a long purple one and calling it purple rain

 

My outside one.

I'm going to do more of them for around here. Some of the beads are acrylic others are glass. The wood I'm using is Maple .

Candle Holders

These were fun.

Well I think I'm all caught up. Ollie is walking and doing good,Spring is around the corner and everyone is doing great so have a great evening and will post some more later. Oh you guys can leave me a message on here at the bottom.